1. (SBU) Summary. In an October 4 report, the Chief of Plans for
UNAMID Transition, Colonel Johnstone, in El Fasher, North Darfur,
described current UNAMID deployment status. He termed GOS
cooperation to date as "reasonable," noted the complexity of the
transition, provided a rundown of troop contributions to date, and
cited the lack of helicopters as negatively affecting their
capabilities. End Summary.

GOS COOPERATION: REASONABLE
---------------------------

2. (SBU) He described GoS efforts to facilitate deployment of the
Heavy Support Package (HSP) as 'overall reasonable.' He said there
were a few problems with local authorities, but felt these problems
stemmed from issues over payment and proper paperwork, not from any
GoS policy of obstruction. Other problems, he said, were due to the
sheer complexity and magnitude of the deployment operation.

3. (SBU) Observers and many UNAMID officers believe that the
AMIS-UNAMID transition is the most complex operation in UN history.
No matter how cooperative and supportive the GoS chooses to be, the
enlargement of a 7,000 person AMIS force into a hybrid force of over
23,000 soldiers plus thousands of civpols and civilians, in a large,
remote area with little water and natural resources faces a number
of logistical and organizational challenges. Darfur is already
straining to support the indigenous population, and is still
undergoing desertification.

4. (SBU) Water will be a limiting factor, and UNAMID is in the
process of obtaining permission to use the required tracts of land.
While African nations have pledged significant numbers of infantry
units to maintain UNAMID's 'African character,' the UN is focused on
recruiting larger units (800 instead of 680 man battalions), and,
perhaps more importantly, ensuring that they are adequately
equipped. The HSP still has insufficient pledges for medium
transport helicopters, tactical helicopters, and heavy ground
transportation assets. Finally, the UN has not yet signed contracts
for the support and maintenance at its camps.

ISSUES WITH LOCAL OFFICIALS
---------------------------

5. (SBU) At the same time, there are small but important issues
related to deployment of UNAMID troops that need to be resolved.
Local officials at Port Sudan's Port Authority have raised concerns
with the Ministry of Interior and other ministries over who will pay
for the port service fees associated with use of the port. Local
officials in El Fasher have demanded to know the UN's authority to
operate communications equipment in Sudan. Johnstone dismissed this
issue as already being covered in their Status of Forces Agreement
(SOFA). He further stated that this issue requires time and effort
to reach a mutually satisfactory understanding with local officials.

HEAVY SUPPORT PACKAGE UPDATE
----------------------------

6. (SBU) In an October 4 AMIS report, AMIS described the Heavy
Support Package (HSP) selected, and accepted Troop Contributing
Countries (TCC):

Note: While the report lists Nordic and Thailand troops as
"accepted," we understand that the GoS has not accepted these
troops. End Note.

8. (SBU) The report identified several shortfalls in critical areas:
three Medium Utility Wings, two Medium Heavy Transportation
Companies, and a Light Tactical Helicopter Wing. UNAMID said the
shortfalls will have a negative impact on operational and logistical
capabilities.

-------
COMMENT
-------

9. (SBU) The UN faces enormous challenges in Darfur, but, so far,
the obstacles to deployment of the AU-UN Hybrid force are more
logistical and organizational than political. According to UN
commanders, GoS has been reasonable in facilitating this operation.

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